Card Magic Trick for Kids: Simple Monte 2

Here’s a great card magic trick that is easy to make and perform and it’s great for kids. It’s actually something of a baffler that leaves spectators scratching their heads. You’ll undoubtedly have fun with this one. The routine has a theme that's based on the classic street scam that's known as the three card monte. This is among the best easy magic tricks that I can recommend to a beginner or kid to learn and perform.


Effect: In this trick, you display three cards and ask the spectator to remember the middle card. After turning the cards over, you remove the middle card and lay it face down onto a table. You ask the spectator if they can recall the removed card is. And when you show it to them, it’s a different card. This is a variation on an easy card magic trick that I call the “Simple Monte.” To learn this trick, please click here. Furthermore, there's another version that's based on the monte that employs two cards that you can learn here.


Secret: You use a trick card that has a half card that covers another card. This is what makes the change happen.
Preparation: You'll need four cards. It's usually best to use three cards that look somewhat alike and one that contrasts with the others. In this case, we’ll use three black number cards and a red face card, the King of Diamonds.
Materials: Clear adhesive tape Scissors

Take the card that you will display in the middle and will cover the “changed card” and cut it in half. In this case, we’ll use the four of clubs.

Using the clear adhesive tape, attach the half card to one of the other cards. In this case we’re taping the half four of clubs to the five of clubs. Note the position of the half card on the full card. You’ll want to mimic this position with your gimmick. While you can simply tape the half card onto the full card from the top, you can hide the adhesive tape by taping the half card from underneath. This will remove the telltale adhesive tape that may give the trick away.

To perform the card magic trick, place the "different" card, in this case the King of Diamonds, under the half card that's taped onto the first card. You're essentially "tucking" half of the King of Diamonds under the half Four of Clubs. The King of Diamonds is now neatly tucked under the half card and will not show when we apply the next step.







Position the last card so that it covers the "different" card, the King of Diamonds. When viewed this way, you can't see the King that's underneath the four of clubs. You're ready to begin the trick. Remember that in the picture, the four of clubs in the middle is a half card that covers the top of the King of Diamonds. And the bottom of the King of Diamonds is covered by the four of spades.

Display the cards as positioned in the previous step. Ask the spectator to remember the middle card. Turnover the packet of cards and remove the middle card by pulling it out and laying it on the table. Make sure that you don’t show the face of the card as the card has already changed. Ask the spectator if they can name the card that you removed. Note that the positions of the individual cards in the packet have been shifted - brought closer together - in the picture. This is the position of the cards that you will want if you intend to show the faces of the other cards, which you can.

Turnover the card that you laid onto the table and show that it has somehow changed. Quickly put your cards away. The three card monte, which is also known as "monte," "three card trick," "follow the lady," "three way" and "find the lady," is a scam that is performed on the streets and uses three playing cards. In the classic game, the practitioner, also known as the "thrower," displays three cards and one of the three, called the "money" card, contrasts with the others. For example, a black queen amongst two red number cards. The cards are "thrown" face-down onto a table where they’re haphazardly mixed, and the victim, also known as the "mark," bets on which card is the money card. Despite looking fair, the gambling game is a scam that the practitioner completely controls. There is no way for the mark to win. In the street game, the practitioner often works with a group of colleagues that work together to fleece the mark. The crowd attracts the attention of the mark and others seem to be winning easy money. But the game changes once the mark brings out his money and begins to bet.